The Silent Majority:

Adult Victims of Sexual Exploitation by Clergy

Although clergy of any denomination can sexually exploit children, teens, men, or women, many experts estimate that over 95% of victims of sexual exploitation by clergy are adult women.

Adult victims of sexual exploitation by clergy often don't see themselves as victims. Without wider public awareness of the extent and impacts of this form of sexual violence, adults who have been sexually victimized by a beloved priest, pastor, minister, rabbi or other clergy will remain the "silent majority" of clergy sexual abuse victims, suffering in their shame and self-isolation.

An editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on February 8, 2010 advises the following:

Talk to police first: Sexual abuse is a crime, and it needs to be reported first to law enforcement, not to officials of other institutions.

If you are a victim of sexual abuse or if you know someone who has been sexually abused or you know of a case of sexual abuse, you need to report that to the police or other civil authority before you report it to anyone else. You don't first report it to a school principal, teacher, counselor, minister, rabbi, imam, priest or bishop. You go to the police.

Sexual abuse is a crime and needs to be reported to the proper law enforcement agency just as any other crime should be … That should apply to all victims of sexual abuse, regardless of age …

Denominational codes of ethics recognize that mutual consent is not possible in sexual relations between ministers and those they serve. Sexualization of the ministerial relationship is a violation of the sacred boundary between a pastor and members of his or her flock. On this page, read excerpts from misconduct policies from:

Anglican Church in Australia, Apostolic, Baptist, Calvary Chapel, Catholic, Christian Scientist, Church of Christ, Church of England, Church of the Nazarene, Disciples of Christ, Episcopalian, Friends, Lutheran, Jewish, Methodist, Mormon, Presbyterian, Reformed Judaism, Seventh Day Adventist, United Church of Canada

Angela Bonavoglia, author of Good Catholic Girls

Rev. Pamela Cooper-White, author of The Cry of Tamar

Dr. Rene Drumm, Southern Adventist University

Dr. Kathryn Flynn, author of The Sexual Abuse of Women by Members of the Clergy

News stories appear almost daily chronicling the extent of sexual misconduct by ministers, priests, rabbis and other clergy. The widespread incidence of sexual abuse by clergy across denominations indicates that even sacred space in religious congregations does not provide sanctuary from sexual assault or harassment.

Sexual abuse by clergy, counselors, doctors, therapists, lawyers, law enforcement and prison officials exploits the vulnerable position of persons in their care. The "social capital" or high public prestige of these trained professionals can be a source of great confusion in the community when allegations of sexual abuse are brought forward.

NOW 2009 Resolution

Call to Criminalize Sexual Exploitation of Adult Women by Clergy

WHEREAS, the National Organization for Women (NOW) has fought hard to shatter societal silence regarding all forms of sexual violence; and

WHEREAS, public misunderstanding and lack of knowledge regarding adult victims of sexual exploitation by clergy have contributed to silencing the voices of these victims; and

WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of victims of sexual exploitation by clergy are adults, predominately female congregants victimized by male clergy; and

WHEREAS, adult victims of clergy sexual exploitation are routinely blamed for this abuse and revictimized by the public, severely ostracized by their own congregations, and disbelieved by religious authority figures from whom they seek solace and protection, resulting in devastating social isolation and confusion; and

WHEREAS, in addition to coping with the physical and emotional impacts of sexual violation, victims of sexual exploitation by clergy often also suffer loss of faith, loss of religious tradition, loss of spouse, loss of employment within religious organizations or with faith-affiliated educational institutions, self-blame by the victim, and loss of support from family, congregation, and community;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NOW chapters be encouraged to participate in educational and advocacy campaigns to increase public awareness that the majority of victims of clergy sexual exploitation are adult women and that sexual violation by a spiritual leader has profound life-altering impacts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NOW entities be encouraged to support state legislative campaigns for statutory reform, in particular to add clergy to the enumerated categories of professionals covered in fiduciary-duty laws in states having such laws, and for criminalization of sexual relations between similarly enumerated categories of professionals in states not having fiduciary-duty laws; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NOW disseminate information on the extent and impacts of clergy sexual exploitation of adult women, including legal avenues of redress and model legislation, on the NOW website and via other media outlets that NOW regularly utilizes for its advocacy campaigns.

This site is established to share informational resources for victims and advocates of victims of clergy sexual abuse. To all victims who have come forward, thank you for your courage. Please forward related news materials with complete URL, publication date, and name of publication to: info@adultsabusedbyclergy.org